Title: Manager, Research & Strategy – Forests
Job Family / Level: Program / Manager/Lead Specialist
Reports to: Senior Director, Research & Strategic Initiatives – Forests
FLSA Status: Exempt
Last Reviewed: December 2021
Major Function
The Manager is a member of the Forest Research & Strategy Team. The position will lead, implement, and develop technical research, methods, and tools to advance the WWF-US Forests Strategy and Major Initiatives, as well as, other goal team collaborations and external initiatives, as appropriate. In the near term, this will specifically include the development of science-based targets for land and forest systems within the Global Commons Alliance and Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), with a focus on corporate accounting and allocation methods. Longer term, this role will also support development of strategy and technical guidance on nature-based solutions for companies and provide thought leadership and expertise on the intersection of nature and climate. These activities will help WWF deliver its conservation mission by advancing forest goals directly and connecting them with land, freshwater, biodiversity and climate goals. The non-state actor guidance will align our economy within planetary boundaries, providing critical decision support and science translations to advance the environmental conventions and Sustainable Development Goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design, development and management of workstreams within the SBTN, specifically the current Land Hub grant. Duties will include method development, drafting and reviewing official guidance, policy and technical documents, convening relevant stakeholders and experts, and conducting literature analysis and research, and spatial data analysis. Including workstreams on corporate methods and allocation, outreach and tools development.
- Partner with other NGOs (e.g., Conservation International, UNEP WCMC, CDP, WRI, AFI) and manage relationship to deliver technical and programmatic outputs.
- Lead company pilots through the SBTN process including presentations, interviews, consultative meetings, feedback response management, etc.
- Translate SBT technical outcomes to financial sector guidance, where appropriate.
- Lead strategic research, proposal development and technical guidance on corporate investments and actions on beyond value chain investments in forests for climate and nature outcomes.
- Support Forest Team on Monitoring & Evaluation for program and major initiatives.
- Collaborate with senior staff on technical deliverables in support of WWF-US Forests strategy and major initiatives.
- Provide guidance to staff on current and strategic emerging opportunities. This will rely heavily on a working knowledge of environmental science, conservation interventions (primarily forest-based), biodiversity and pressures, and climate change and land systems transition.
- Lead author and co-author/collaborate with senior staff on external publications and longer term research projects including high level technical documents, technical blogs, peer reviewed journal articles, trend spotting, literature searches, subject review, and writing.
- Travel, domestic and potentially international, may be required (3-4 times a year) however majority of work will not require travel.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills and Abilities
- A Bachelor’s degree in forestry, environmental science, industrial ecology, environmental engineering, geographic information science, ecology, conservation biology or a related field, with a minimum of 8 years’ experience in associated field, is required
- A Master’s degree in forestry, environmental science, industrial ecology, environmental engineering, geographic information science, ecology, conservation biology or a related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in associated field, is preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of climate change, biodiversity, land use and degradation, ecosystem services, supply chain data, remote sensing, GIS, nature-based solutions, agriculture, forestry, and freshwater, is preferred.
- Excellent skills in organization, collaboration, research, writing, analytics, project management, memes and interpersonal communication are required.
- Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
- Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
- Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
- Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
- Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
- Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design, development and management of workstreams within the SBTN, specifically the current Land Hub grant. Duties will include method development, drafting and reviewing official guidance, policy and technical documents, convening relevant stakeholders and experts, and conducting literature analysis and research, and spatial data analysis. Including workstreams on corporate methods and allocation, outreach and tools development.
- Partner with other NGOs (e.g., Conservation International, UNEP WCMC, CDP, WRI, AFI) and manage relationship to deliver technical and programmatic outputs.
- Lead company pilots through the SBTN process including presentations, interviews, consultative meetings, feedback response management, etc.
- Translate SBT technical outcomes to financial sector guidance, where appropriate.
- Lead strategic research, proposal development and technical guidance on corporate investments and actions on beyond value chain investments in forests for climate and nature outcomes.
- Support Forest Team on Monitoring & Evaluation for program and major initiatives.
- Collaborate with senior staff on technical deliverables in support of WWF-US Forests strategy and major initiatives.
- Provide guidance to staff on current and strategic emerging opportunities. This will rely heavily on a working knowledge of environmental science, conservation interventions (primarily forest-based), biodiversity and pressures, and climate change and land systems transition.
- Lead author and co-author/collaborate with senior staff on external publications and longer term research projects including high level technical documents, technical blogs, peer reviewed journal articles, trend spotting, literature searches, subject review, and writing.
- Travel, domestic and potentially international, may be required (3-4 times a year) however majority of work will not require travel.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree in forestry, environmental science, industrial ecology, environmental engineering, geographic information science, ecology, conservation biology or a related field, with a minimum of 8 years’ experience in associated field, is required
- A Master’s degree in forestry, environmental science, industrial ecology, environmental engineering, geographic information science, ecology, conservation biology or a related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in associated field, is preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of climate change, biodiversity, land use and degradation, ecosystem services, supply chain data, remote sensing, GIS, nature-based solutions, agriculture, forestry, and freshwater, is preferred.
- Excellent skills in organization, collaboration, research, writing, analytics, project management, memes and interpersonal communication are required.
- Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams.
- Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:
- Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.
- Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.
- Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.
- Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.
WWF is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and requires all US-based staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. WWF will consider requests for accommodation from the vaccine requirement based on disability, medical contraindication, sincerely held religious belief, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
To Apply:
- Submit cover letter and resume through our Careers Page, Requisition #22104
- Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to inquiries via phone
As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status. WWF values diversity and inclusion and welcomes diverse candidates to apply.